Angels’ Wings

The Somerset Valley Players offer a stage version of the film classic ‘It’s A Wonderful Life.’

By: Matt Smith
   When the weather outside turns frightful, many theaters attempt to delight audiences with productions of holiday favorites such as A Christmas Carol. The Somerset Valley Players have taken a different tack of late, staging reworked versions of time-tested Christmas movies.
   "This is the third year in a row we’ve done a remake," says Karen Abbatiello, who is co-directing the SVP version of It’s A Wonderful Life. "Two years ago we did ‘Miracle on 34th Street,’ and last year ‘A Christmas Story,’ and they were pretty much sold out… It’s a great change from ‘A Christmas Carol.’ Everybody does that, or ‘The Nutcracker.’"
   The show runs Dec. 6 to 21 in Hillsborough and stars Tom Prickett as George Bailey, the role made famous by Jimmy Stewart in Frank Capra’s 1946 film classic. Ms. Abbatiello is sharing directing duties with Dianna Rake Barkman, is stage-managing, and also co-producing with her husband, Dominick Abbatiello, who appears in the show.
   Ms. Abbatiello says the stage adaptation of It’s A Wonderful Life is similar to the movie, but SVP has cast women in some of the minor men’s roles, and will be bringing the familiar to story to life in vivid color. "Seeing something live as opposed to sitting in front of a TV changes the dynamic and makes it more exciting," she says.
   The timeless story takes place in the town of Bedford Falls, where bank manager George Bailey is having one of the worst days of his life. The misplacement of a large sum of money has created a crisis, and George can only find one way out. Right before jumping to his death, an angel, Clarence, appears and takes George on a journey of self-discovery, where he learns that one man can make a difference.
   "I know people will come with expectations of Jimmy Stewart or Donna Reed," notes Ms. Abbatiello, "but they’re not going to get that… Our George is really dynamic. Tom Prickett is just fabulous. He runs the gamut of emotions. You’ll fall in love with him — I know I have."
It’s a Wonderful Life plays at the Somerset Valley Playhouse, 689 Amwell Road, Hillsborough, Dec. 6-21. Performances: Sat. 7 p.m., Sun. 3 p.m. Tickets cost $10. For information, call (908) 369-7469. On the Web: www.svptheatre.org